$5,000 reward offered in McCalla church fire

McCALLA, Ala. — The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office says a $5,000 reward is being offered in connection with a church fire in McCalla.

A spokesman says investigators are looking for a man who broke a window on the front of Bellview Baptist Church, poured gas inside and started a fire around 1:30 a.m. Saturday. A neighbor saw the suspect and put out the fire before it caused extensive damage.

Investigators say the man may have been involved in setting fires earlier in the month at a vacant nursing home and a vacant house in the same area.

The sheriff's office says the reward will be provided for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is helping with the investigation and providing the reward.

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